Mass Defense Program

The Mass Defense Committee (MDC) is a network of lawyers, legal workers, and law students providing legal support for political activists, protesters and movements for social change.

MDC members from across the country provide Know Your Rights trainings, Legal Observer trainings, assistance in setting up temporary legal offices and legal support structures, and materials for supporting activists engaged in mass protests and civil disobedience. Contact the Mass Defense leadership listed below to set up a training in your area.

MDC Know Your Rights booklets are available for widespread use in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengal, and Urdu. Booklets can also be ordered from the NLG National Office.

NLG Legal Support Hotlines

Some local NLG chapters operate Legal Support Hotlines. If you’re planning an action with a high risk of arrest or you’ve been arrested at a political demonstration, you can call legal support hotlines in the following areas:

If you don’t see your area listed, contact King Downing, Director of Mass Defense at massdef@nlg.org

OurMass Defense work and Director position are funded with a matching grant from the CS Fund and relies on contributions from NLG members. So that we can sustain this position, please donate to the Mass Defense Program today!

Your donation will be used to help:

Train Legal Observers to monitor police at protests

Fund our Mass Defense Director position

Expand our outreach to people of color, Muslim and immigrant communities

You can also find some NLG attorneyshere who provide criminal representation for activists arrested during mass protests. For NLG attorneys in other areas of the country, or to find a legal collective near you, please contact the NLG Mass Defense Director.

We need your support to help sustain our work in the streets and in the courtroom!